Psychiatric Disability

It is not uncommon for veterans to be treated for mental health disorders. Some of the more common disorders veterans struggle with include schizophrenia, anxiety, panic, mood, bipolar, depressive, and adjustment disorders.

Getting Help With Your Psychiatric Disability

Why Did the VA Deny My Claim?

Veterans are regularly diagnosed with mental health disorders shortly after departing active duty. Often times, this is because the previous stigmas or impediments precluding a diagnosis while on active duty no longer exist. In other words, veterans feel more comfortable seeking assistance after leaving the military. Other veterans develop mental health disorders shortly after getting out of the military because of their active duty experiences.

Unfortunately, the lack of a diagnosis while on active duty is often the reason the VA denies veterans service-connection for mental health disability. Generally, the VA can only grant service-connection for a mental health disability if the condition started while on active duty. The onset of symptoms is generally accepted as the starting point of a medical condition, and mental health diagnoses are typically made based on an individual’s symptoms.

The VA tends to ignore symptoms and will only look for formal diagnoses made while the veteran was on active duty. Due to this, the VA might wrongly deny service-connection to veterans for mental health disorders since their conditions were not formally diagnosed while on active duty. This is unfortunate and done in error. The law requires the VA to consider symptoms and other circumstantial factors when rendering a decision for service-connection. Fortunately, our veteran disability attorneys are ready to help you start your appeal.

Should I Get a VA Disability Lawyer?

Yes! Our veteran disability lawyers can help you gather critical evidence needed to successfully claim a service-connected psychiatric disability. Mental health disorders can be a difficult area of VA disability law, which is why we don’t recommend appealing the decision alone. Our lawyers for veterans benefits can help you gather the evidence necessary to substantiate your claim. Veterans are routinely denied VA benefits for mental health disorders, which is why it’s important you contact our veterans attorneys today.

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About Us

VA Disability Group is a law firm for military veterans and focuses exclusively on veterans’ benefit rights – fighting to ensure veterans and their dependents get the benefits they deserve from the Department of Veteran Affairs. We offer free case evaluations. Learn more about our experienced Kalamazoo VA disability attorneys.